ATC managing director John Morse said one should not look at short-term hiccups. He said the ATC is committed to Asia despite some pressure back home for it to divert its resources to Europe because of the weak Asian currencies.
Asian arrivals into Australia have grown to 1.3 million this year compared with 390,000 in 1991. "Between these years, the ATC had pumped in a large amount of investment. It will be foolish to pull off (now) because of a couple of bad months," Morse said on a recent trip to southeast Asia.
On reports of the ATC shifting its focus from southeast Asia to other Asian countries, Morse said China and India were new markets, and ATC had planned for a representative office in Shanghai long before the southeast Asian currency crisis.
Southeast Asia still holds potential for Australia. Although it will be tough to perk up the Thai market, Singapore is still a strong market while Malaysia and Indonesia will grow at a slower pace.
Morse said the Australian dollar, relatively cheaper than the US dollar and pound sterling, would encourage Malaysians to visit Australia.
Morse is worried that Australia could lose out to travel within Asia if the current Cathay Pacific (CX) short-term "Super Offer" at M$1688 (US$562) inclusive of two return tickets and three nights' accommodation in Hong Kong sparks off a flurry of other cheap Asian deals.
Morse said the ATC would also convert its representative offices in Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan into fully-fledged offices as already implemented in Korea.